After watching first Lucas Biglia and then Enzo Perez do little except play balls into places where things go to die, it’s looking like Argentina’s riding Ever Banega next to Javier Mascherano from here on out (which still might not be very long whatsoever). Regardless, my God was it nice to see a ball from the Argentina midfield that wasn’t first coated in the feces of a leaky Mascherano anus.
With Argentina’s back up against the wall in a must-win match to close out Group D, Lionel Messi finally showed up. The Messi goal vs Nigeria put La Albiceleste on top 14 minutes into the game and the reaction from Diego Maradona was priceless.
Messi, who is trying to pass Maradona as Argentina’s all-time greatest player with a World Cup title, made a great run spotted by midfielder Ever Banega. The lofted through ball, the first touch and the finish were all sublime for the Messi goal vs Nigeria.
The Paolo Guerrero goal on Tuesday was a happy epilogue to all the drama that surrounded the Peruvian striker's participation in the World Cup.
After helping Peru clinch a spot in the intercontinental qualifier against New Zeland, Guerrero failed a doping control test, and that's where a whole nation's odyssey started.
He was first banned from all FIFA competitions for one year, which meant he would miss the World Cup.
Portugal struggled to break down the stout defense of Team Melli for about 45 minutes. Then came the absurd Ricardo Quaresma goal vs Iran to flip the tie on its head.
In February, we crowned Quaresma the King of the Trivela. The Besiktas winger brought his beautiful technique with him to Russia and scored what may be the most sumptuous goal of the World Cup thus far.
Who wants to play Russia? Who wants to play Uruguay?!
Not Morocco. The already-eliminated side has been one of the better looking teams at the World Cup, but the Atlas Lions had yet to score or get points at this World Cup heading into its final group match. That’s soccer for you.
But after all the misfortune, Morocco finally had some luck go its way.
A rare fib between former El Clasico rivals Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos led to a break away for Khalid Boutaïb. David de Gea was looking to make his first save of the tournament, but Boutaïb finished with poise.
Mohamed Salah's goal was leading Egypt to its first-ever World Cup point, but a late Saudi Arabia goal denied the Pharaohs.
With both Egypt and Saudi Arabia eliminated prior to the match, it was clear the game would be more about honor and statistics than actual glory.
Nevertheless, both teams were eager to get the victory that would send them back home with some degree of consolation.
Rumors have been swirling around the Egypt camp that Mohamed Salah could quit international football after the World Cup. The Liverpool star, according to reports, has been unhappy with the way he’s been singled out surrounding a photo he took with the leader of the Chechen Republic. After the Mo Salah goal vs Saudi Arabia on Monday did not elicit any celebration from the Pharaohs’ star man, there may be some truth to the rumor.